By Joe Bachman
Editor

STEVENS POINT — Rep. Katrina Shankland (D-Stevens Point) and Lt. Governor Mandela Barnes hosted a press conference today to introduce her well testing and compensation bill.

Held at UW-Stevens Point’s Science Building Conservatory, bill ‘LRB 1197’ seeks to create testing for private wells, which includes the expansion of funding for homeowners to access clean drinking water. According to a Portage County water study, high levels of nitrates were found in a quarter of private area wells. This is nearly doubled in the Nelsonville area, where the study found 47 percent of the wells to be undrinkable. Throughout Southwestern Wisconsin, nearly half of all wells were found to be contaminated, and one in five private wells in the entire state are considered unsafe to drink from due to nitrate contamination.

“This is unacceptable,” said Shankland. “The State of Wisconsin needs to provide immediate relief to these people and ensure that they have access to clean drinking water moving forward.”

“This bill is a a promise to the people of Wisconsin.” Shankland later remarked.

Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes (right) speaks to press on Feb. 11. Next to him are residents Karen and Tim Hannon (left to right) (Joe Bachman Photo)

The bi-partisan legislation will provide government grants to homeowners to test and treat their private wells, and joining Shankland and Barnes were local homeowners who have been affected by contaminated water and grant requirements.

Stevens Point homeowners Karen and Tim Hannon noticed in June of 2014 that there were changes to their drinking water. After testing their wells concluded high levels of nitrates, (seven times federal and state health standard) they reached out to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources in regards to what they can do, specifically regarding a compensation grant for treating the contaminated water.

However, the grant required for those who apply to use the water supply for livestock, and/or for their total income not to exceed $65,000. This new bill would eliminate those requirements and give high priority to grants for all homeowners whose wells greatly exceed nitrate levels.

“No one should have to buy bottled water because their drinking water is contaminated,” said Shankland. “Yet an alarming percentage of wells have recently tested for nitrates exceeding the health standards in Central Wisconsin and across the state. Incentivizing well testing and increasing access to well compensation grants recognize the problem our state is facing with access to clean water. We all deserve access to clean and safe drinking water, and this bill will provide immediate relief to the people of rural Wisconsin.”

Mandela Barnes chimed in on how water issues have affected Wisconsinites.

“An unfortunate reality for too many people in the state is that their drinking water is toxic, and it’s having an impact on their health and well-being,” said Barnes. “Access to clean drinking water is a right, and we understand that, and it’s something that everybody in every community across the entire state of Wisconsin; across this entire country, should be able to access — and it is unacceptable that in 2019 we’re facing so many clean drinking water problems from lead to nitrates to bacteria and toxic chemicals.”

Representative Katrina Shankland (D-Stevens Point) (Joe Bachman Photo)

Barnes would point out that those most impact by contaminated drinking water are those living in poverty and low rural areas throughout Wisconsin. Contaminated drinking water also affects childhood development and can lead to miscarriages and birth defects. Barnes pledges to work with scientists and health professionals in legislation to help further the treatment of water issues across the state. This includes evidence-based policies in water legislation bills.

“We’re going to put science back in the center of the decision making.” said Barnes.

For Shankland, this bill comes after years of fighting against a tide where it seemed many waived off water concerns in the region.

“Everytime there’s a water bill I stand up and say ‘one-in-four people in Portage County can’t drink their water’ — and it felt like for years no one heard me except for the residents of Portage County,” said Shankland. “Now we have a Governor, and a Lieutenant Governor, and a DNR secretary who will listen and who will act, and that’s what thrills me.”

“I can’t believe it’s taken this long for us to get traction but because we have the leadership on the state level; Governor Evers and Lieutenant Governor Barnes understand that science is the most important basis for making our decisions when it comes to clean water and other important health issues.” added Shankland.

Shankland and Barnes are hopeful that the bill will get a public hearing soon so it can quickly move through state legislature.